Spacing mechanism for telegraph printers



Dec. 13,1927. 1,652,320

c. E. NELSON j SPACING MECHANISM FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS Filed April 18,1922

Car/ Erik-M19022 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL ERIC NELSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, .IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO MORKRUM-KL'EINSCHMIDT CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

srnome MECHANISM ron TELEGRAPH rnm'rnns.

Application filed April 18,

Modern telegraph printers provide electrically controlled means for printing characters and include means for performing all other mechanical functions of a type-writer. Two representative forms of apparatus of this character are disclosed in the copending applications for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial Number 390,598, filed June 21, 1920 issued as Patent No. 1,565,165, and Serial Number 530880, filed J anuary 21, 1922, issued as Patent No. 1,564,422.

Among the means for performing mechanical functions is the spacing mechanism for causing movement'of the carriage when a character has been printed, and it is de: sirable that the spacing mechanism should remain inoperative, when any other mechanical function is performed. For this purpose, the present invention places the spacing mechanism,was' it were, under the control of an operated type bar, or the spacing bar, by causing each ty e bar, or spacing bar,'to displace a suita le detent, normally preventing the full movement of the spacing pawl, and thereby permitting its full movement, resulting in the engagement of an adjacent tooth of the ratchet, causing the rotation of the ratchet and the movement of the carriage. I

The drawing illustrates the invention in a perspective view, inwhich 10 indicates the operatingelectro-magnet 0r solenoid, and 11 the reciprocatable armature or core operat ing the rocking shaft 12. The type printing mechanism includes the pull bars 13, only one of which being shown, connected to one of the vertical bars 14, causing the operation of type bar 15, as now well known and shown in the above mentioned copending applications. The type bars swing on pivots 16 and'their curved shoulders 17 strike universal bar 18, causing the rocking of universal bar supports 19 on shaft 20.

The spacing ratchet is shown at 21 and is secured to rotatable shaft 22. Spacing pawl 23 engages one of the teeth of ratchet 21, under tension of pawl s ring 24. A retaining awl 25,'under tension of spring 26, is mova 1y secured to a stationary pivot.

Spacing .pawl 23 is. pivoted to one end of bellcrank lever 27, having its pivot at 28 and held under tension of spring 29, A roller 30 is. placed-at the end of the second arm of V .-bell -crank.le vei: 27, and is adapted to con- 1922. SerialNo. 555,006.

tact with rocking arm 31, secured to shaft 12.

One of the universal bar supports 19 carries connecting link 32, having at its free end spring 33, the tension of which may be end of link 32. Link 32 'passes through and engages rocking arm 34, on shaft 35, which also carries a downwardly extending detent 36, the lower end of which engages notch 37, of spacing pawl 23. The notch is so designed that it permits a limited movement of spac- Operation.

Each energization of operating magnet 10, results in the operation of shaft 12 and the movement of'rocking arm 31 to the right. Roller 30 follows the movement of rocking arm 31 under tension of spring 29, to a limited extent. Detent 36 prevents the full movement of bell crank 27 and spacing pawl 23, for all energizations of operating magnet 10, resulting in the various mechanical functions of the type printer, except when a type bar or spacing bar is operated.

In this event, the universal bar 18 having been engaged'by one of the t e bars 15, or the spacing bar, connecting link 32 will push arm 34 forward, rotate shaft 35. and remove detent 36 from recess 37. This will permit bell crank 27 to follow the full extent of travel of rocking arm 31. Spacing pawl 23 leaves one tooth of ratchet 21 and engages the adjacent tooth, and on the return stroke of rocking arm 31, spacing pawl 23 causes ratchet 21 to rotate to the extent of one tooth, resulting in the corresponding movement of the paper carriage and the proper spacing between letters.

What is claimed as new, is

1.'In combination, a single electro-magnetic means for operating type printing mechanism and spacing mechanism, means for initiating the operation of said spacing mechanism, and means operated by said type printing mechanism for permitting the com letion of the operation of said spacing mec anism.

2. In combination, power mechanism, type printing mechanism, spacing mechanism inadjusted by means of a nut provided at the eluding a spacing pawl, a detent controlled by said type prlnting mechanism for normally engaging said spacing pawl and permittmg a limited movement thereof and adapted, when disengaged from said spacing pawl, to permit the complete movement thereof in one direction, whereupon said power mechanism causes the movement of said spacing pawl in the opposite direction to perform the spacing operation.

3. In combination, power mechanism, type printing mechanism and spacing mechanism, a ratchet included in said spacing mechanism, a spacing pawl engaging said ratchet, a bell-crank carrying said spacing pawl, resilient means adapted to move said spacing pawl in one direction, and a detent controlled by said type printing mechanism and, when engaging said spacing pawl, limiting its movement in one direction under tension of said resilient means and, when disengaged, permitting full movement of said spacing pawl whereupon said power mechanism moves said pawl in the opposite direction to complete the spacing operation.

4. A printing machine comprising type carrying means, a spacing mechanism coacting with said type carrying means, a stepping mechanism for said spacing mechanism, means actuated by said type carrying means during a printing stroke thereof to permit conditioning of said stepping mechanism to cause a spacing movement of said spacing. mechanism, and means actuated during the restoring stroke of said type carryin means to cause said spacing movement of said spacing mechanism.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 together with a. single electro-magnetic means for actuating said type carrying mechanism and said spacing mechanism.

6. A type printing mechanism comprising tuated solely type carrying means; a spacing mechanism coacting with said type carrying means; op-

erating means for said type carrying means and said spacing mechanism; and a stepping mechanism for said spacing mechanism ac by stored energy supplied by said operating means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the energy supplied by said operating meansis stored in springs which in turn apply said stored energy to said stepping mechanism.

8. In combination, type printing mechanism, a single electro-magnetic means for operating said type printing mechanism, spacing mechanism normally latched against operation by said printing mechanism and released for operation upon operation of said printing mechanism and spring means controlled by said electro-magnet for. operating said released spacing mechanism.

9. In combination, nism, spacing mechanism, a single electromagnetic means for storing ener from said magnet for operating said spacing mechanism, said means releasing its energy to operate said spacing mechanism under control of said type printing mechanism.

10. In combination, type printing mecha- IllSID, sprin members, spacing mechanism operated so ely by said s ring members, said spacing mechanism being normally latched against operation by said printing mechanism, electromagnetic means for operating said printing mechanism, and means contro ed by sald type printing mechanism for releasing said spring mechanism.

Signed at Brookl Kings and State of of April, 1922.

in the county of ew York, this 15th day CARL ERIC NELSON.

type printing mecha- 

